Manhattan advanced to the Kansas 6A state title with a 38-7 victory over Derby Friday night on Lew Lane Field at Bishop Stadium in Manhattan.
The Manhattan defense won the first quarter for the Indians. The Indians led 7-0 after recovering a Derby fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Joseph Mortensen rushed for a touchdown to give Manhattan a Derby 14-0 lead with 11:50 to go in the second quarter and made the score 21-0 on another TD run with 4:11 left in the first half.
Derby got on the board with a Blade Clark to Davon Morrison TD pass. Manhattan still led 21-7 with 3:22 to go in the second quarter. That was the score at halftime.
Manhattan scored 10 points in the third quarter to push its lead to 31-7.
With 8:16 left in the fourth quarter, Manhattan senior quarterback JJ Dunnigan threw a 19-yard TD pass to senior Greyson Wassenberg to make the final score 38-7.
Manhattan improved to 10-2 and Derby finished the season with an 8-4 record.
Manhattan will play Olathe Northwest (9-3) in the Kansas Class 6A state championship game next Saturday at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.
Olathe Northwest defeated Gardner Edgerton 42-28 in the other Class 6A semifinal. Gardner Edgerton finished the season with a 9-3 record.
